I noticed that Sam @gigiflower has started a personal theme to use her nifty fifty for the month of August and I've decided to tag along as this is my favourite lens.
Would anyone be interested in joining us? Apologies for the notification slightly in arrears instead of in advance.
@quietpurplehaze Go for it and have fun. A bit of explanation might help explain the term "nifty fifty". It originated on 35mm film cameras, in digital terms a full-frame camera, where 50mm on that frame provides about the same angle-of-view as do healthy human eyes projecting onto the retinas and then combined by the brain. And as such 50mm on a FF camera became about the "standard" length between "wide angle" and "telephoto" and significant effort was taken to make that prime lens perform well. Typically "fast" and good optics.
On other cameras, this angle of view is obtained from a different focal length projecting onto the different sized frame (sensor), in your case with your A6000, it's a 35mm focal length. On an APS-C camera, I find a true 50mm lens a little awkward, a little "cramped," a mild telephoto but not long enough to do anything really "telephoto." Others here have remarked on the same issue, @northy has mentioned it more than once.
On a micro 4/3 camera, it would be about a 25mm lens, but the issue gets murky because of the different aspect ratio.
But do have fun with the fast lens. It's often why many folks turn to a "nifty fifty," low light shooting. Although I find that all but the very best "niftys" do not give great performance, distortion and clarity and smooth even pleasant "bokeh" when stopped way open.
@frankhymus -- I'm blind in one eye. So with 50% less peripheral vision, does that mean my brain only "sees" about a 100mm ? Your analysis and explanation intrigues me,
Frank, as ever I am overawed by your knowledge but I thank you for the explanation which I will need to read at least once more to 'get my head round it'! I just love that lens!
Tweets ahoy!
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Peter, welcome! It's my understanding that nifty fifty = 50mm 1.8
On other cameras, this angle of view is obtained from a different focal length projecting onto the different sized frame (sensor), in your case with your A6000, it's a 35mm focal length. On an APS-C camera, I find a true 50mm lens a little awkward, a little "cramped," a mild telephoto but not long enough to do anything really "telephoto." Others here have remarked on the same issue, @northy has mentioned it more than once.
On a micro 4/3 camera, it would be about a 25mm lens, but the issue gets murky because of the different aspect ratio.
But do have fun with the fast lens. It's often why many folks turn to a "nifty fifty," low light shooting. Although I find that all but the very best "niftys" do not give great performance, distortion and clarity and smooth even pleasant "bokeh" when stopped way open.
All the best.
Frank, as ever I am overawed by your knowledge but I thank you for the explanation which I will need to read at least once more to 'get my head round it'! I just love that lens!
Shall you join us?
https://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/365/2017-08-05 - taken at 1.8f
Great!
Look forward to your photos!